Read Misty's True Love (Mail Order Brides of Pioneer Town, Book 2) Online

Authors: Ruth Hartzler

Tags: #christian, #grace, #indiana, #westerns, #genre fiction, #frontier and pioneer, #christian westerns

Misty's True Love (Mail Order Brides of Pioneer Town, Book 2) (7 page)

BOOK: Misty's True Love (Mail Order Brides of Pioneer Town, Book 2)
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It is a shame the ball is
such short notice. I can only imagine what we could have done had
we more time.” Indiana beamed proudly at the design that Misty had
finally chosen after much discussion. “Mr. Mills won’t be able to
take his eyes off you. I am sure even his mother will be convinced
that you are suitable for her son. Well, perhaps I have set my
hopes too high. Yet I am sure she will be a little more open to the
idea once she sees you.”


I imagine she will not be
especially pleased,” Misty said softly as she gazed at the design,
then quickly covered her mouth when she realized she said it out
loud.


What do you mean?” Indiana
asked.

Misty glanced toward the seamstress to
make sure she did not overhear. She was only too aware that one of
the unfortunate things about high society is how easily a loose
comment can be relayed to the wrong people, often in the wrong
context. Luckily, the woman was busy preparing the measurements to
make a start. Indiana had offered a handsome price to have the
dress done as swiftly as possible.


Mrs. Mills does not seem
especially pleased with my presence,” Misty continued in whispered
tone.

Indiana nodded. “I have heard that
Mrs. Mills can be difficult. She is likely wanting the best for her
son. And when she sees you are the best, things will get
easier.”

Misty bit her bottom lip uncertainly.
It did not feel as if the rift between them would be healed by a
dress and good manners. But was it too much to feel hopeful over
the idea?


Besides, she did invite
you to the ball. That has to count for something, right?” Indiana
asked encouragingly, though a glimmer of uncertainty seemed to
shadow her optimism. “Surely she should have known you might not
have time to find a dress. Then again, she knows we are friends.
Maybe she just assumed you would borrow one of mine. I certainly
would not have minded a few stitches to make it fit. But you
deserve a dress of your own.”

Misty had to wonder if Indiana was
prattling on to convince herself, rather than Misty, that the woman
meant well. Even if she had managed to borrow a dress from Misty,
they were far from identical in height, among other measurements.
Had they been a perfect match, it still would be a stretch. It was
one thing to borrow a dress for town or a small ball. But a ball
gown? That was no small thing to lend to another person. She could
not imagine anyone in Pioneer Town keeping more than one or two
ball gowns, unless they were meaning to show off their
wealth.


I wonder what went through
her head. She seemed so pleased to invite you.” Indiana touched a
long, slender finger to her cheek and tapped it thoughtfully,
trying to find a sensible explanation.


Perhaps that I would not
show.” Misty felt a little saddened by the idea. Mrs. Mills was
clearly discontent with the fact that she was only a
maid.


Maybe she thought me
ignorant enough to show in my Sunday clothes.” Misty furrowed her
brow as she tried unsuccessfully to shake the thought away. It
rattled and buzzed in her head like a bee caught in a jar,
adamantly trying to release itself. But the thought was ridiculous.
She was appalled that she would think so little of Cody’s mother.
No matter how badly they got along right now, it was no excuse to
assume that the lady would think so poorly of her.


You’d know better than
that,” Indiana said dismissively, though there was a hollow ring to
the words. Neither of them wanted to believe it of the woman. “What
woman wouldn’t know that Sunday clothes don’t fit in a
ballroom?”


A scullery maid, perhaps.”
Misty gazed thoughtfully at the picture. “You were raised as a
young lady of quality, so you know this. And as a lady’s maid, I
had to know such a thing. Yet I am sure others might make the
mistake. In a normal event, it would make sense to simply wear the
best one has, especially if one does not have the means to attain
the proper dress.”


You would be made the joke
of the town,” Indiana gasped as she gazed at the dress fabric.
“Surely she would not be so cruel.”


Surely you are right. I am
likely just making something out of nothing at all,” Misty said,
but the words caught in her throat. She remembered Mrs. Mills as
she smiled and invited her to the ball. How different was her
manner from the scowl she had worn when Misty was
introduced!

Indiana did not look reassured,
either. As they tried to steer the conversation back to the dress
and its design, Misty was burdened with thoughts that she could not
quite bring herself to voice at length, especially not on a mere
assumption.

One thing was for certain. Misty was
disturbed by the feeling that Mrs. Mills had a motive of her own
for inviting her to the ball.

 

 

Chapter 10

Misty regarded the house with an
anxious knot of foreboding lodged in the pit of her stomach. The
home itself looked welcoming. It was easily the grandest of the
homes she had seen in Pioneer Town thus far, with beautiful, white
Grecian pillars standing sentinel along the spacious porch. It was
freshly painted, without a blemish or a wayward shingle. A neat
path that led all the way to the bottom step. From what she could
see in the fading light, there was not a weed to be
seen.

The perfection of the house reflected
the strict standards of its mistress. Misty could not help but feel
a little intimidated as she checked her gown for wrinkles and
non-existent loose threads. Mrs. Mills had made her disapproval of
her plain enough. The house only seemed to affirm the former maid’s
worries of an uphill battle. Cody’s mother would not accept her
anytime soon.


It’s a shame that Mr.
Mills was unable to escort you to the ball,” Indiana said with a
small measure of disappointment.


He was needed urgently at
his ranch,” Misty replied as she slowly tore her eyes away from the
house. It was for the better that she had the distraction. The
building seemed to seem more stern and imposing the longer she
gazed at it. If she thought too hard upon it, she would lose her
nerve and retreat after all.


I know, but it is a shame
he could not get away soon enough. The evening is so lovely, I
think you two would have enjoyed the drive together.”


I apologize.” Misty gave
her friend and her husband an apologetic look. “I’m sure you both
would have enjoyed a private moment yourselves.”


Not at all!” Indiana waved
off Misty’s concern with a gloved hand. “We all likely would have
made the trip together. Won’t that be exciting once things are
settled and official.”


Though I imagine it would
have been these two that would have wanted a private moment of
their own had the opportunity presented itself,” Morgan pointed out
to his wife with a smile.


Oh! You are quite right!”
Indiana’s eyes lit up at the revelation and she nodded in
agreement. “I got so caught up that I didn’t even think of
it.”

Misty smiled as Indiana chattered on
about the ball and how wonderful it ought to be, with a light joke
about how Misty would actually be able to enjoy one for once
without having to chase corset strings in a back room.

The realization of how big the event
was hit her all at once. Misty had been to her fair share of balls
as a lady’s maid, but that was not the same as actually attending a
ball as a lady. The help was never seen at a ball. For one of her
station, attending a ball was watching from a curtain or back
hallway out of sight, always ready to rescue their ladies should a
bead come loose, or if a corset needed tightening after a
dance.

As yet another wave of anxiety hit,
Misty held her breath and reminded herself that she knew everything
there was to know. She only need act how she had observed ladies
doing, and everything would be fine. She hoped that such a thing
worked well in practice.


Still,” Indiana said
thoughtfully, shaking Misty from her thoughts, “he will need to
make this up to you. He owes you a dance. A dozen
dances!”


My feet would fall off at
the ankle!” Misty protested at the thought. She could at least feel
confident in her ballroom dancing. Indiana’s mother had her
instructed along with Indiana’s sisters.


Then he could carry you!”
Indiana stated, earning a laugh and an affectionate kiss on the
cheek from her husband. Distracted, the young woman dropped her
plotting for the time being.

Misty had to smile as well. It had
felt like ages since she had seen Indiana so alive. Her spirit had
been all but crushed right after her father’s death, smothered by
the weight of her responsibilities. Morgan had certainly made a
difference in the young woman’s life in a hurry. It was so good to
see her dear friend laugh and speak her wild ideas so freely. She
could only hope to have such a transformation herself one of these
days.


Are you certain you do not
want my husband to go find him? You both ought to be announced
together, at least.” Indiana asked thoughtfully.

Misty shook her head with a soft
smile. “This is for the better.”

Morgan and Indiana exchanged quiet
glances as they politely avoided asking Misty to elaborate on the
details. It was clear to Misty that they both knew what a strict
and traditional woman Cody’s mother was.

Even in Pioneer Town where class lines
were blurred, Mrs. Mills had standards that Misty could not
meet.

* * *

Misty did her utmost best to keep her
composure as she made her way into the elaborate ballroom. It was
almost surreal to hear her name announced at the door as a servant
politely took her shawl.

The ballroom was smaller than most
that she had seen. Especially in San Francisco, where the vaulted
ceilings could reach well over the guests’ heads and whole string
orchestras might play in the background. Still, it was certainly a
large affair for a town of this size.

Not to mention it was the only ball
she had ever attended as an actual guest. The flickering candles
and the soft sound of the piano were mesmerizing as she gazed over
the crowd. The ballroom was breathtaking with polished dark wood
trim and crystals dripping elegantly from the chandeliers overhead.
The tables were laden with flowers and luxurious tablecloths. There
were servers offering guests drinks from exquisite glasses and
small appetizers on fine china plates that had to have come from
overseas.

It was not the biggest or most
elaborate ball in the world, but to Misty the detail that Olivia
had managed to put into the event was amazing, especially for a
town of this size, so far removed from other towns and cities. She
could not help but admire the woman’s ability to organize such an
elaborate event, especially given the short notice.

As Misty made her way across the room,
she could not help but feel dozen of pairs of eyes on her. She felt
her face color as she tried not to study her observers too openly.
There was a strange mix of emotions on their faces. Some seemed
openly curious about her, a little surprised in a town where
everyone would know each other. However, a few seemed to smolder as
they regarded her, as if they were vexed with her for a personal
slight.


Those fussy hens,” Indiana
said in amusement as she stood by her friend, giving the woman an
amused and overly wide smile. “It must be eating them alive that
they’d never look as amazing as you do tonight.”


Oh, do not be silly,
Indiana,” Misty scoffed lightly as she gave the back of Indiana’s
hand a light swat.


Well, it is true!” Indiana
stated resolutely. “I’m jealous of how well your gown turned out,
especially with it under such a rush. I might have to steal the
design one day, if it is all right with you.”


Of course.” Misty said.
Before she could get another word out, Indiana took her lightly by
the elbow and started to lead her toward a friendly looking
group.


Allow me to introduce you
to a few people while Cody is busy,” Indiana insisted. Misty did
not have time to protest or become anxious over meeting strangers
formally. Indiana proceeded to introduce her to one person after
another, so swiftly that it was all she could do to keep
up.

It felt as if she had been introduced
to half of town.


Well now, you can be quite
full of surprises,” an all too familiar voice said from behind
her.

Misty hoped her smile was convincing
as she turned to see Olivia standing there, looking regal and
sophisticated in her deep royal blue evening gown and perfect white
gloves. Gems dripped along her neck and in her hair, making her
look more like a queen than simply a wealthy woman.


Mrs. Mills, it is a
pleasure to see you,” Misty said pleasantly, trying to dispel her
former paranoia out of her mind for the time being.

Mrs. Mills regarded her much like a
school teacher studying a child who wallowed in a mud puddle before
class. It took considerable effort not to wilt under the gaze and
check her dress for a stain or other imperfection.

BOOK: Misty's True Love (Mail Order Brides of Pioneer Town, Book 2)
8.24Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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